It 'soitenly' is, to borrow a word from the best Stooge ever, Curly.
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| Soitenly!! |
And, what, you may be asking yourself, what, exactly, is a cabaret.
Quick!! To the Bat-Dictionary, Robin!!
And the Bat-Dictionary came through, again. A cabaret is:
a: a restaurant serving liquor and providing entertainment: : nightclub
b: The show provided at a cabaret
I'm going to go with the latter definition. Life is a show provided at a nightclub. And what a show it is.
So for this presentation I will be high-lighting several of the shows that have been presented to us over the past few days. From Audubon Society (ASLC) meetings through a sunset on the beach and then along to a fireworks display, also on the beach. It's been fun.
June 19, 2015
So let's get started and for this particular trip, we will be traveling in chronological order starting with June 19th, 2015 and ending the very next day.
Oh, say, have you ever heard of the term, Juneteenth?
Hahaha, here it comes...Fun Facts: Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the U.S. and, specifically, in Texas. It dates back to 1865 when, on June 19th, the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with the news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free.
This was two and a half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation which had become official on January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865 and the arrival of General Granger's regiment, the forces necessary were finally strong enough to overcome resistance and free the slaves.
I had never heard of this holiday until I'd started teaching in Texas. Amazing what you learn traveling through life.
Hahaha, that was a short detour.
Let's get back to our first meeting and potluck with the ASLC. It was being held at the Cascade Head River House along the Salmon River. It was the first time we'd headed out this way and we were both struck by the beauty of the drive into the River House.
The River House is a community center, a clubhouse, for a gated community set along the Salmon River near the Cascade Head.
And the tide was in when we arrived.
There was business to be done and then food to be eaten.
And the fun had already started and so we quickly joined in. Here's Carol with Caren Willoughby, a board member, and Jack Doyle, the President.
This was a scheduled meeting with a potluck after and the purpose of it was to elect officers for the LC Chapter. And to have a little fun, too. Which, with this crew, is not hard to do. Not hard at all.
The River House is located just south of the Cascade Head Scenic Research Area/Siuslaw National Forest. It overlooks the point where the Salmon River makes its final turn and empties into the Pacific ocean.
Here's a wider view of the same area. I learned there is a park a mile or so up the river where you can launch kayaks from. And, if the tide is right, you can even go up the Salmon River to Otis. Now that would be an interesting trip.
Just need to figure out how to store the doggone kayaks when we're not using them.
From the deck you have a great view of the river and, I'm told, that right across the river from us in this picture is an aerie with two eaglets. They've set up scopes and, when the eagles are flying back to the aerie, they've been able to spot the babies back in the trees.
But not today. Ratz.
And, while the views were great, we weren't there just for that. No, there was business to be done. Primarily, there was an election for the next term of officers for the ASLC.
I'm not making fun here, but we simply voted in all the officers that were currently serving. Hahaha, it's like most volunteer organizations...plenty of folks to participate and help but mighty thin when it comes to being responsible. And, I admit freely, that is a classic definition of me and my approach to clubs.
I'm a good follower. Very good.
Unfortunately, something terrible happened. I still haven't figured it out. I do know that while this whole thing was happening to me Carol Anne was right there cheering it along!!
Hahaha, somehow, someway, I was railroaded into being the Vice-President of the Chapter. But not before I had, at least, ascertained that the position is almost entirely ceremonial and nothing of consequence would be required of me beyond paying my dues on time and showing up at the monthly meetings.
Well, we'll see what happens. I hope they don't regret this.
What a nice clubhouse.
And there were plenty of people there and plenty of food, too.
Plus this little gal, a Barn Swallow. I think she was a bit upset with us. Her nest was in the eaves of the porch and we kept disturbing her.
But, all good things come to an end and this meeting did, too. Carol's saying good-bye while I'm already out the door.
Vice-President Smilin' Jack
What the heck happened!?!?!
On the way back to The 101, we stopped at the small park on the river that I mentioned earlier. It looks like it will be a great place to launch our kayaks from. Once we get them.
And here is another view of the Salmon River.
We finally got home, full of good cheer and good food and ready to relax. And I was relaxing but then, while I was reclining in my favorite position on the couch, I saw this out the window.
I couldn't resist so I grabbed my camera and headed out to get some pictures of this spectacular sunset. One of the best I've seen in the Great American Pacific Northwest.
You knew I'd get more than one, didn't you. Hahaha, I took around 40 pictures and winnowed them down to just these few.
Going, going .....
And gone.
What a show!!
And I wasn't the only one enjoying this. There were people stopped all along the beach, well, as many as we usually get here, maybe 15 or so people. Anyway, they were all looking to the west and many of them had their cameras out and were shooting, too.
Next time I'm going to try a different setting...one for low light shooting. I still have so much to learn about this amazing camera.
And there was a fingernail moon out tonight.
What a sight.
Speaking of cameras, if you'd tried to tell me, back in 1974 when I first really got into photography, I would have such a powerful and versatile camera in my hands I'd have laughed at you and thought you crazy.
There's so much to be grateful for with modern technology. Really, for casual shooting like I do, it's all in the eye now. The camera really does handle all the rest.
Alrighty, then, that day was done and now we were ready to start a new one.
June 20, 2015
Let's start in the early morning. We have several bird feeders up in our yard. They're all different styles so that we can feed, and attract, as many birds as possible.
We'd had a feeder with suet out before but the crows kept on eating it all so we'd put it away. Recently, we put it back out. Hahaha, we're incurable optimists.
And, this time, it worked!!
This fine fellow stopped by for an early lunch this morning.
It's so cool. We have these huge picture windows in our front room and we can sit there and watch the feeders, and the ocean, without even having to get up off the couch. Hahaha, that's a prime requisite for me.
This Red-Shafted Flicker was enjoying his breakfast.
But this Cowbird (?) wasn't too happy with him hogging it all for himself. He was nagging at the Flicker but he didn't get much closer than this.
The suet is popular. After the Flicker, this European Starling came by for a bite. In fact, I just glanced out the window and noticed the suet feeder is....empty.
Wha!!!
Excuse me, I'll be back in a minute. I've got to refill.
OK, all done. Let's get back to business.
That was the morning.
Then it was time to take Carol to the Train Station. You see, Carol's sister, Allida, invited her for a visit. I mean, who wouldn't want to go down to Sunny El Monte in the heart of the Southern California Summer for a visit, right!?!
Hahaha, Carol would!!
I mean, 90 degree+ weather!! Wowsers!! Sign me up!!
But before any trip, you need to fuel up and so we stopped at the Puerto Vallarta Restaurant. Makes sense, right? I mean, she's going down to Southern California so might as well get some authentic Mexican food up here in Oregon while she can, right?
Hahahaha, we've been trying to eat here for a while. They've had some family problems and have been open sporadically for a while now. But today they were open and so .... let's grease!!
They get an A+ for decor and service.
The whole place was colorful and clean.
Carol got a Bean and Cheese Burrito and I got a meat taco. Evidently, Carol wasn't too impressed with her burrito as she said she wouldn't order it if we ate there again. My taco was good. I'll get something else if we eat there again. Not because it wasn't good, but just to try something different.
And then we were off to Salem and the Amtrak Station.
I've said it before, but I have yet to tire of these drives through the Oregon countryside. I've been down this road before, a number of times, but each time it is like a whole new experience.
And we were there in a flash, about two hours early. Well, you know, if you ain't early, then you're late. We did have plenty of time to chill.
Here's the Amtrak Station in Salem. It's less than a mile from the State Capitol. This building was finished in 1918 after the previous two depots had burned down. Third time was, evidently, the charm.
Woo, woo!! Riding the rails from Salem to Los Angeles.
And it would only take about 27 or so hours.
The Happy Girl
Riding the Coast Starlight.
I got a ticket to ride ....
It was such a nice day, we moved outside to wait for the train.
And here it was, heading round the bend.
They had a car just for the folks riding down to Los Angeles.
I like the idea of taking the train. It's unusual and different and that's always exciting but, it's so doggone long. It's a heck of a long ride for about the same price as a plane ticket. However, there's no lines, no security inspections and no ridiculously tiny seats to deal with.
Hmmmmm, I still think I'd go by plane. But Carol wanted to take the train and so, there she goes.
Good-bye, Oregon, Hellooooo, California.
So I got Carol off to visit her sister.
As for me, it was a enjoyable ride back to LCO.
And, shortly after I got back, this.
The Chinook Winds Casino, just a half-mile up the beach, is celebrating their 20th Anniversary and they did it with a fireworks display.
I'm not a real big fan of fireworks. It's been a long time since I've made any kind of an effort to go and see them. They were exciting when I was younger but not so much anymore. But, what the heck, it's just over the small hill and I didn't have to make much of an effort to see them so .... I did.
And it gave me a chance to play with my camera. I found the setting for fireworks and I was eager to see what came of it.
Hahaha, it was simple. In fact, the only difficulty was in where to point the camera lens. I mean, they were shooting the fireworks off in the same general area but that area was still pretty large. I'd point it here and just get an edge and then point it there and miss it entirely. Hahaha, life is so unfair...and tough.
And it was fun. I started out on the beach. I had headed out about 10 minutes before the hour. It was suppose to start at 2200 and by 2215 I was tired, cold and more than a bit impatient. At 2220, I said to heck with it and trudged back to the Casa.
And, wouldn't you know it. As soon as I got the front door open, the fireworks started. There was no way I was heading back down to the beach so I walked out front and could see them. And, if I walked across the street, I had an even better view.
And so I stayed there, on the side of the road, and enjoyed the show. The fireworks lasted for over 20 minutes which is, in fireworks time, an exceedingly long time period.
And it was good. No lulls and lotsa noise and lights.
And like I said, it was easy. The hard part was finding where to shoot. In truth, I have around a hundred pictures of the fireworks. As you can easily guess, not everyone was a winner. Hahaha, to be honest, very few were even worth the effort.
But I had fun. Thanks, Chinook Winds!! Happy Anniversary!!
And so, those were our days. Meeting with friends, sunsets, birds, trips and fireworks. Hahaha, life is good here along the Oregon Central Coast. I'm learning, again, that you find your fun wherever you choose.
And it is true, what Abraham Lincoln said over 150 years ago and which was restated so aptly in the movie, Pollyanna, (one of the great movies) back in 1960. The Great Emancipator said,
Most folks are as happy as
they make up their minds to be.
Right on, Abe. Right on.
Life is good.
Hooah!!
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